Critic Reviews

Bully: Scholarship Edition is definitely recommended if you missed the game the first time around. The polished graphics, new missions and classes, and multiplayer mode are all icing on the cake for a game that is genuinely funny and provides a rather unique experience. It's not any game that can make going to class fun, but Bully is that game.

Bully is a game that transcends the technical limitations of its programming, achieving despite its flaws in ways that few games have dared to try. Rockstar is at least partially responsible for the infamy and notoriety that the mainstream press lumps upon it, but it should be applauded for a game that what was one of the best of 2006 and remains a remarkable experience in 2008.

Bully's developers are obviously well schooled in creating masterpieces and thus are awarded an A for effort. Bully features a fitting assortment of music and although it doesn't push any boundaries visually it is still adequate enough to steal 20 hours or more of your life without blinking an eye, not to mention being priced lower than most games makes it a steal.

If you haven’t experienced Rockstar’s Bully in the past, now is the time to enroll into the Bullworth Academy. Bully is a great game for any console owner on any of the platforms, even the old PS2 version can count. The extra content in the Scholarship Edition don’t really justify another purchase, however everyone else should spend some time schooling some Bullies at Bullworth. This unique look into student life through the eyes of the new kid in town is an inspiration for gaming. Bully showcases that you don’t have to make an alien space shooters or another racing game to remain interesting and cool. Rockstar Vancouver did an excellent job on Bully: SE and I’d love to see another adventure as the man on campus, Jimmy Hopkins. If you’re not convinced that Bully is that good, spend a few buck and rent this one out and you might just learn a few new pick up lines, insults, or even some geography with Bully: Scholarship Edition. Final Grade: A

f it is something to pass the time with until GTA IV comes out then look no further than Bully. But I do feel you will be serving the game a huge injustice. This is a top class game that deserves the credit and respect it has been getting. But you do get the feeling Rock Star have released this as a stop gap for GTA fans. If it had been released at any other time then it would have had a longer life. With GTA IV just around the corner, it won’t. But don’t let that stop you from buying this game. Quite simply, it’s a game your collection needs.

If you missed Bully the first time around, scholarship edition is a great game to pick up. The only possible complaints to have with this game are the extremely unimpressive graphics, and the laughably simplistic difficulty setting, when compared to the rest of the package these complaints seem more like cherry picking rather than actual reasons not to play this game. If you’re looking for a fun, enjoyable, and hilarious sandbox game, Bully is very easy to recommend. The game is a joy to play, and probably one of the funniest games ever made. If you’re someone who likes having fun and laughing, buy Bully (For $49.99 USD).

Bully: Scholarship Edition is a solid translation of the original PS2 game. It gives a little extra, but is at its core the same game. Though it has some limitations, particularly in the lack of depth of the social structure, there are many other great aspects to enjoy. And really, there is no other game like Bully on 360. If you haven't figured it out yet, Bully is a great game. Go out and buy it (for a mere $50); you won't regret the purchase.

All in all Bully: Scholarship Edition is an enjoyable, fun game. It doesn't really bring anything fresh to the table when compared with the original PS2 version, however the improved graphics and additional game elements enhance what was already a very solid and playable title from Rockstar.

Bully: Scholarship Edition might have had a few problems when it first came out with all its glitches, but things are fixed (hopefully). This game is a real good game if you give it a chance. At first it might seem boring and a bit challenging, but after beating the first two missions you’ll start to enjoy the game a lot. Pick this game up; it really is one of the better games Rockstar has made in a long time.

Bully was a fantastic release late in the life of the PS2, and I'm pumped that the folks I know who've become gamers this generation now have a chance to experience it for themselves. For those of us who've already had our fun the first time, I'm not sure a second run at high school is really in order.

Gamers who have already played Bully from the PS2 won't find much value here, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is still a nice addition to the collection for 360 gamers who may have missed out the first time around, offering a variety of gameplay styles in a unique setting, all while retaining that classic open world Rockstar Games touch. It is a tad disappointing this 360 version wasn't a little more optimized and visually stimulating, but what Bully: Scholarship Edition lacks in eye candy it makes up for in charm and sheer play-ability. At the very least, this is a nice distraction that should keep you occupied as the countdown for GTA IV approaches weeks and not months.

If you missed it the first time around on the PlayStation 2, Bully: Scholarship Edition for the Xbox 360 is still an enjoyable and now complete package worth the money. It’s a very original and unique game that is a rare gaming treat that shouldn’t be missed by anyone.

The bottom line is that Bully: Scholarship Edition is one of those games that you have an extremely hard time putting down and allows the mischievous kid in all of us to come out. It is engaging, fun to play and downright additive at times. There are some flaws that can’t be overlooked, but all in all it is worth buying and spending the time exploring the Bullworth virtual World.

Bully: Scholarship Edition manages to rise to the head of the class, warts and all, in delivering another wedgie to the childish categorization against which games continue to struggle. Bully lets you take part in the life of one student going against the odds with a slingshot in one hand and a stink bomb in the other as he tries to clean up a school that is a lot more troubled than he is. Xbox 360 owners and newcomers who have never experienced any of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto titles might find Bully's introductory course to be a good manner of getting their feet wet, while Rockstar loyalists will enjoy the kind of free-roaming gameplay that they've come to expect from the studio.

Despite all of the great moments in Bully: Scholarship Edition, the game does contain a lot of bugs such as people walking into walls and the odd unexpected freeze. The graphics look horrible compared to some of the outstanding graphics seen in games recently also. Players who have finished Canis Canem Edit on the PlayStation 2 will not find this game much different at all.The extra missions are barely noticeable and the multiplayer is very poor as it consists of challenging each other at the lessons playable in single-player.Other than that, Rockstar have done a good job of porting the game from the PlayStation 2 to one of the most entertaining XBOX 360 titles available.

The biggest downside with Bully however is the length. You really will only get about 20 hours of solid gameplay out of it. I clocked in at about 13 hours when I finished all of the missions, but there are many side quests and collectibles to find that will keep you busy a while longer. Bully is a fantastic port of the classic PS2 game and a welcome addition to your gaming collection. It really does not add too much to the original, but there is still a lot of fun to be had for those that have not played it yet. If you have not tried Bully before, I highly recommend you pick this one up. I promise you will not regret it.

Then again, if you're prepared to stomach the glitches, this game is going to provide hours and hours of top-notch entertainment. It can also be a good way to warm up before GTA IV arrives. The gameplay never gets old and you are likely to keep on playing until you've completed the entire game. If you've already played Bully on the PS2, it's safe to say you'll find all the new elements a rather cool addition to the game.

Otherwise, it's the PS2 game all over again. Assuming you didn't play that, this is terrific fun. The world, though small, is packed with things to do and very well realised, with seasonal graphical makeovers (and minor gameplay tweaks) at intervals along with the usual day-and-night cycle, a cast of well-executed crooks, chancers, idiots and innocents, and a terrific density and variety of gameplay. There's always something new to find or do, while the things you've already experienced only improve over the course of the game's five-and-a-bit chunky chapters, and the customisation elements (wardrobe, in particular - dress like a ninja to blend into the scenery, or run around wearing a hazmat helmet) are funnier than they often are in other openworld games.

But, all the problems aside it's still great fun when it works and for that reason, had it been released bug free, we'd be looking at a score in the 90's. As it is the painfully obvious nature of those bugs make it impossible to ignore them entirely however much you may want to. If, or when, Rockstar patch the game to the quality we should be able to expect from a finished game then I'd heartily recommend picking up a copy as there's a real gem of a game here to enjoy. In its released state however, before or after the first patch, it's a game that if not ruined is certainly hampered by some glaring problems that really shouldn't be acceptable in this day and age.

If you missed out on Bully first time round then this is the perfect opportunity to catch up. The addition of some new classes and missions makes the package all the more sweeter. Here’s hoping that once GTA4 has been done and dusted they can return to the world of Jimmy Hopkins. Bully: The College Years, anyone?

Even with its niggles, outdated graphics and repetitive mission structure, Bully feels like it deserves a place in the Xbox360’s catalogue. There is a very robust storyline, but then again what else have we have come to expect from Rockstar. In true typical fashion there are some seriously memorable characters. It's difficult to write much more, as they aren't any multiplayer components. Bully is a chief example of where the good outweighs the bad. Hopefully Bully can really make it to the top of the class second time around and get the A that it deserves.

When it first came out, I thought that Bully would have benefited greatly from an increase in hardware, and I’m surprised to say that Bully fared better as an overachieving PS2 game than as an underachieving 360 game. Due to the SE’s problems even with the update, and overall lack of improvement, especially given how much more powerful the 360 is than the PS2, I‘m very disappointed at how poor this “Scholarship Edition” turned out to be. The high price tag of $50 compared to the PS2 original’s present one of $20 doesn‘t help either, as too little has been added to justify the increased cost.

Scoring Bully: Scholarship Edition as it was released is a tough call – the game is undeniably buggy as it stands, but the extent of that depends a lot on your hardware and other mysterious variables it would seem. For some, Bully has a few minor glitches and hitches, for others, the game is virtually unplayable and broken. But if you're lucky enough to only get a mild dose of this, Bully's view of the world through a child's eyes will amuse and entertain you for hours. The gameplay is fantastic fun and ever-changing, the visuals are much improved over the PS2, and the new content adds a lot to the experience. The dialogue and voice-acting are hilarious, the characters are perfect, and it all comes together to make Bully one of the most enjoyable adventures on the Xbox 360 today.

If you never played Bully on PlayStation 2, you should consider checking out Bully: Scholarship Edition. Between the Xbox 360 and Wii versions, the 360 build is the superior game. However, both versions are well-done remakes/ports of Bully. It's not exactly Grand Theft Auto caliber, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is still an entertaining open-world romp through Bullworth Academy.

This is definitely an excellent new edition of an already exquisite game. But unfortunately, that is where the problem lies in the Scholarship Edition. If you never got a chance to play the original Bully, you are really missing out and should pick up a copy of the superior Scholarship Edition as soon as possible. However, if you have already played Bully on the PS2, there really aren't a lot of compelling reasons to play through this version. While it does add a few new missions, new classes, new characters, better graphics, and a limited multiplayer mode, it is still basically the same game as before. None of the new additions really make this game worth buying again or even going out of your way to play through it (about 30 hours) a second time. Still, for anyone who missed the first version of Bully, first of all shame on you, and secondly, you should certainly play through the revamped Scholarship Edition.

For Xbox 360 gamers looking for something a little different to the plethora of first-person shooters on offer, this game will be a real breath of fresh air. Its Grange Hill-style schoolboy humour, coupled with plenty of mischief and a diverse range of missions, make it a compelling and original experience. If, however, you already own the PS2 title then give this a miss as the extra eight missions and multiplayer modes cannot truly justify the £30 asking price

If you can get around the somewhat outdated look of the game, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be found in Bully: Scholarship Edition. The original game was a fun romp around the schoolyard, and this new edition takes that experience and adds some extra credit to the assignment. Sure, the content isn’t exactly tailor made for an afterschool special, but it’s a great exaggeration of the hijinks and hard times that just about anyone can relate to. And thanks to Rockstar’s decision to give fans continuing education by expanding the game’s content, there’s plenty in place to please both Bullworth freshmen and alumni alike.

The stiff character faces reveal the game's PS2 origins, but the stately brick buildings and their lavish interiors still look terrific. The excellent soundtrack strikes an irreverent tone, and the professional voice acting is quite convincing. My issues with Bully are similar to those I have with GTA games in general. The missions are fun at first but start to feel like errands after a while. Once the scope of the game extends to a nearby town, the fun factor takes a hit. The basic storyline is very linear, so until you complete a critical mission you're forced to keep replaying it. Bully never achieves true greatness, but with an original concept, clever design, and high production values, it comes admirably close.

Bully is a pretty decent game, although I can't comment on how much different the experience is if you've already played the PS2 version to death many moons ago. If like me you are new to the fold, then Bully is a highly entertaining tongue firmly in cheek look at modern day school life with a twist of old fashioned tomfoolery thrown in for good measure. Everything seems to work nicely and there's always something to sink your teeth into, should you tire of one activity. The game's graphics might disappoint the graphics whores, but I found that once you look beyond the rather dull textures, and focus on the gameplay, it feels passable as an Xbox 360 game...just. The only real issue that plagues the game are the sometimes frequent lock ups which really does let down the experience, especially as there isn't a save anywhere option.

Overall, Bully is an enjoyable title, albeit with its share of issues. It seems like this game could have been delayed a little bit in order to iron out these glitches and random occurrences that you face throughout the game. With that being said I kept coming back for more and I was always curious as to what would happen next. Bully in no way reinvents the open world genre or really does anything particularly innovative. What it does do however is provide you with a fun world to play around in and serves as a great game to pass the time until Grand Theft Auto IV is released in April.

What it is, however, is a game worth bragging about in its own right. Despite its shortcomings – even the game-stopper bugs – it simulates almost perfectly the experiences of a typical schoolchild, despite being ridiculously over-the-top in almost every manner. It’s the characterization and interactions that give the game realism, and Bully should be lauded for immersing the player in an artistic, unique world. ‘Games are Art’ players rejoice: you have a new game to play.

If you've played Bully already on the PlayStation 2, the extras in the Scholarship Edition may amuse you, but they don't justify purchasing the game all over again. On the other hand, if you skipped it the first time around, this is a great excuse to catch up on what you missed. Bully offers plenty of memorable moments and crafts an adolescent world that is both surreal and painfully truthful, so don't be surprised if it causes you to relive portions of your own painful youth. Xbox 360 technical issues and other peculiarities aside, this is a fun and boisterous game that will ring true for anyone who has endured the unique adventures of student life.

Also troubling are the game's controls. The left thumbstick, for instance, moves Jimmy at inconsistent speeds. Sometimes he runs when pressed all the way forward and other times he walks. This is particularly frustrating when trying to outrun a school official only to get caught because the game registers your input as walking, not running. Flaws like this make you feel as though the game is bullying you instead of the other way around. It's disappointing really because Bully offers incredibly entertaining gameplay that's worthwhile, but the improvements that should have come with the jump to the more powerful Xbox 360 hardware just don't pan out. Maybe a true new-gen sequel will get things right and graduate at the top of the class

Bully is a great game that suffers from technical issues. The atmosphere, story and freedom of choice for the player is set on an impressive foundation of character that will either remind you of your misspent youth or childhood traumas long suppressed. It can be funny and disturbing while being challenging and clever. It's just too bad more care wasn't taken in making it available on a new platform.